Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton earned his third MLS award of the season on Monday as he was named to Major League Soccer’s 2009 Best XI, an annual award recognizing the League’s top 11 players at each individual position on the field – one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. Thornton, who is Major League Soccer’s Goalkeeper of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year for 2009, led MLS in both goals against average (0.87) and shutouts (12) this season. He is the fourth Chivas USA player to be named in the MLS Best XI, following Brad Guzan and Jonathan Bornstein in 2007 and Sacha Kljestan in 2008.

In his first full season as a starter for Chivas USA, Thornton led the team to a 13-11-6 record and posted a career best 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals against average, which ranks second all-time in MLS history behind Pat Onstad’s 0.82 mark in 2007. His 12 shutouts were one shy of the Chivas USA record, set in 2007 by Brad Guzan, who also earned Goalkeeper of the Year and MLS Best XI honors in that season. Thornton was also named the Red-and-White’s MVP for 2009 in a ceremony prior to the final match of the regular season.

The Best XI members received the most votes from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers. Six members of the 2009 Best XI are prior recipients of the honor, while five have been named to the squad for the first time.

In addition to Thornton, the Best XI defense includes Chad Marshall, a two-time Best XI member and this year’s Visa Defender of the Year. Joining Marshall on the back line are two first-time recipients – the Houston Dynamo’s Geoff Cameron and the Chicago Fire’s Wilman Conde.

The star-studded midfield includes two four-time honorees, Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), and Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) earned his third selection. MLS Newcomer of the Year finalist Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC) earned MLS Best XI honors for the first time, as did Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo).

The 2009 Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas), joins his closest suitor in that race, Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids) at forward. Cunningham was named to the team for a third time, while this is the first Best XI selection for Casey.

This season 10 clubs are represented on the Best XI. Houston is the only club with two representatives. Of the top 11 players, 10 were members of the 2009 MLS All-Star team, and seven are finalists for the League’s top end-of-season awards, including Volkswagen MLS MVP finalists Cunningham, Donovan and Joseph. Nine members of the Best XI have senior national team appearances. Conde and Cameron are the only two without a full national team cap.